updated 03:30 pm EDT, Thu October 14, 2010

Verizon explains extra 3G iPad plans

Verizon has quickly filled in details of its iPad + MiFi bundles beyond what was introduced this morning. It added that, beyond the $20 plan for 1GB, there will also be 3GB available for $35 each month and 5GB for $50 per month. Every plan is a steep discount over Verizon's regular plans, which include just 250MB for $35 and 5GB for $60.

The plans aren't prepaid but don't require a contract. Verizon warned, however, that buyers can't bring their own iPads: customers have to buy the iPad + MiFi bundle to get the lower rates, it said.

Overage on these also now follows a more AT&T-like approach on the iPad plans. The two upper plans will cost $10 extra per month for every 1GB of use over the official limit. Those on the starter plan will pay $20 for each 1GB over the cap as an attempt to steer users to the more profitable $35 plan.

The carrier also used the opportunity to head off speculation that the upcoming 4G launch might directly affect the iPad, noting that neither the MiFi 2200 nor the current iPad could use 4G. Verizon has said it plans to use tablets as a showcase for its LTE network's 12Mbps speeds but hasn't definitively explained which models would arrive, other than a roadmap leak of the Motorola Stingray.